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Report of
the
ANNUAL
PARISH MEETING 2004
About 50 residents and guests attended the Annual Parish Meeting on
13 April in the Church Hall. The Chairman of the Parish Council, James
Mursell, presided. He welcomed all present, especially our guests: Vivien
Lyth, Chairman of Horsham District Council; and Inspector Mark Piper,
Sergeant Rob Mackay and PC’s Pauline Doherty and Bill Gear, from the
Horsham Sector of the Sussex Constabulary.
In his report James thanked all Parish Councillors and employees for
their support. He drew attention to the Parish Council’s achievements
over the past year – clearance of overgrown vegetation at the recreation
ground, refurbishment of the pavilion and Reading Room, support for local
leisure activities and youth facilities, and creation of a Parish Council
website. Repairs to
Broadford
Bridge Road
and the Monkmead Lane/Common Hill footpath had also been completed as a
result of pressure from the Parish Council and local residents. Planning
matters continued to occupy much of the Parish Council’s time, and James
thanked Tony Salmon and his Working Group on the production of the
excellent Village Design Statement.
In the next year the Council intended to repair the skate ramps, and
to try to reduce the noise from the ramps. Extensive research with ramp
manufacturers, insulation contractors and other councils indicated that
this was easier said than done, but it was hoped that a screen of thick
evergreens might absorb the worst of the noise. Clearance at the
recreation ground would be completed and the former scrub area was to be
levelled and reseeded. Repairs and repainting would be carried out in the
children’s playground, and youth facilities would continue to be
supported. The condition of the museum floor would be investigated and the
necessary repairs put in hand.
The Parish Clerk reported on the Council’s finances.
Receipts and payments were both substantially higher in 2003/4 than in
previous years because of the extensive work to the pavilion and Reading
Room. As a result the Council’s balances were lower than they had been
for some years. The Council continued to strive to minimise any increase
in its council tax, and the Parish levy in 2004/5 was only 1.3% higher
than in the previous year. It was also one of the lowest levies in Horsham
District.
The subject of planning gain was discussed. Funds of around £26,000
were likely to be available for spending on projects which would be of
lasting benefit to the local community. All present were invited to
suggest appropriate projects. A more detailed article on the planning gain
system appears elsewhere.
Inspector Mark Piper then spoke about his team’s organisation and
style of local policing, and the deployment of Police Community Support
Officers and Neighbourhood Wardens. Residents were concerned at the level
of vandalism and theft at the recreation ground, and Mark described how
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO’s) could now be imposed to curb such
nuisances. He encouraged
residents to report their concerns to the Police, either through the
Force’s switchboard:
- 999 for emergencies
and 0845 60 70 999 for non-emergencies
– or by e-mail to Mark.Piper@Sussex.Police.uk
Robert.Mackay@Sussex.Police.uk,
or William.Gear@Sussex.Police.uk.
Vivien Lyth strongly encouraged local residents to become involved
in community-wide partnerships to tackle crime and disorder, and noted
that such an approach was bearing fruit elsewhere in the District. She
congratulated the Parish Council on its achievements over the last year,
in the face of the ever-increasing pressure and volume of paperwork and
initiatives from central government. She had been very pleased to open the
newly refurbished pavilion last November.
Douglas Andrews thanked the Parish Council, and the Chairman in
particular, for their work over the last year, and a successful and
enjoyable meeting closed at
9
pm
.
The detailed reports presented at the meeting are
available from the Parish Office, telephone 817301, or by e-mail wcpcclerk@aol.com
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